The development of new technologies and better methods of communication has created a more dynamic and competitive market in almost all industries. Therefore, organizations that resist change and give up the opportunity to find new ways of working are doomed to failure.
Take the example of companies that develop and supply software. These organizations are now facing a turning point in their existence. They can choose to continue working with the traditional model (slow, inefficient, and difficult to manage) or they can choose to implement the DevOps model and increase the value they deliver.
You may think the choice is obvious. After all, who wants to go on with a stimulating way of doing business when there is a better way readily available?
The situation is a little different because DevOps is not easy to implement and the process is different for each organization. Still, with the right steps and a little patience, any software company can improve their productivity with DevOps. Even more, we will list the main steps that help to lay the foundation for a successful implementation.
What is DevOps?
Above all, DevOps is a cultural shift that takes a collective approach to the traditional software development process. This strategy changes the way executives, IT operations, and developers view the software creation process and opens the door for everyone involved.
However, since this can be a major change for all employees, DevOps implementations take time and patience. It is also recommended that you discuss the process with a few DevOps Consulting Providers to ensure that the implementation will be successful.
In the traditional model, you have the developers who conceptualize and write the code, and you have the operations staff, who take the code from the developers and work with them to make it desirable to the market. As a result, developers and operations staff are always in conflict with each other because their goals are different.
In the DevOps model, the two teams are working together towards the same goal: a functional software product. In addition, due to various research studies, we now know that due to the implementation of DevOps:
- 63% of organizations have succeeded in increasing the quality of their software deployments
- 55% of organizations now benefit from better cooperation and collaboration
In summary, DevOps is a practice that emphasizes collaboration between teams and allows everyone involved to see and participate in the entire process. As a result, all members are working towards the same goal (s) and can share the experience. This means that the resulting product will be more stable in the long run and the time required to produce it will be shorter and without major safety incidents.
3 main steps to follow in a DevOps implementation
# 1: assess your goals
“Improving efficiency and productivity” sounds like an impressive goal, but it is too general to be put into practice. Each organization has its own challenges and production bottlenecks, so it is mandatory to perform a thorough analysis of the current situation. In doing so, you should also identify the main goals that will be followed when implementing DevOps.
Quick advice: It is important to look at both software development issues and organizational structure. A proper DevOps implementation will impact both.
# 2: Create processes that encourage collaboration
The traditional working model pits teams against each other by delivering conflicting goals. In this way, the developers fight with the operating staff and vice versa, resulting in a sloppy production process.
While some competition is needed to gain valuable insights and actionable ideas, when it comes to the production process, collaboration should be the buzzword of the day. A proper implementation of DevOps will allow developers and IT operations to work together towards a common goal.
# 3: be consistent
Appropriate change is gradual and consistent and gives employees the time and space to accept it. Therefore, think of a DevOps implementation as a long-term process, designed in tiers. Start small, with changes that don’t impact many processes, and prepare your employees for new steps as the process progresses.
What to expect
With a successful DevOps implementation comes new practices and technologies that will help improve the overall software production process. It also comes with a different way of thinking, which will have a profound impact on the culture of the organization. As a result, the level of productivity and efficiency of your organization will increase, resulting in better profits and work processes.
You might be interested in: Top 5 DevOps Trends You Should Not Miss in 2021